Adventure Travels in Malaysia and now in other Countries in South East Asia (Singapore, South Korea, Philippines)

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Malaysian Hotels, Rain forest, Casino at Genting Highlands

SelamatDatang!

"A cool, cool morning welcomes me in Malaysia today." This was what I said to myself as I awaken that day. My, my, the air-conditioning was running all night. So, that's why it's cold.

That was an attempt to lighten up the mood.

It was actually a moment full of anxiety, for it was my third day in Malaysia and I have not made my final decision on my destination. Do I go here? There? How long would the drive be? How much will it cost me? How do I get there? What will I see there? Will I have fun there?

Continuing with my thoughts . . .

I want to make the most of this trip. My sight-seeing venture yesterday seemed like a flop to me. I did not see much of what I expected and I feel tired. Yup, I was tired of going around seeing buildings and structures. I wanted to be close to nature.

I then had a recollection of a phone conversation. A friend living at Miri, called me up to say "Hi, hello, how have you been." He was my high school classmate, whom I got connected a few months ago through Facebook. He found out I was in Malaysia. According to him Miri is a two-and-a-half plane ride to KualaLumpur. The call was much welcomed, for it made me feel at home in some sense. We had a long talk, trying to catch up with the decades of gap. Wow, we were really getting old. Life has been good to both of us, and even to our other high schoolbatch mates.

According to Ed Cunningham, "Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer."

I threw Peter an important question, important for me, that is. I asked him, if I were not to miss a place in Malaysia, what would that be? He instantly replied that it would be the Genting Highlands. He said that there are lots of rides there that children would love. Note, however that I do not have any little kiddo tagging along with me. I was a lone traveler remember?

So be it Jedi. This is my favorite line in Star Wars. Thus, it happened. I decided to go to Genting Highlands. Just go.

I took a taxi going there, for I do not know how to get there. All I know is that it is a 45-minute drive from where I was staying. I was willing to spend a little more. Based on my classmate Peter, it is a must-go, must-see, Malaysian tourist spot. I believe him. He's been in Malaysia for quite some time now.

The Genting Highlands, at 1700m above sea level in the Titiwangsamountains, has a resort housing a number of hotels, a shopping mall, indoor and outdoor theme parks plus a casino. The temperature at 14°C to 25°C suggests that you should be ready with a jacket.

The Genting Skyway, the cable-car ride, from Genting Highlands to Gohtong Jaya, is said to be the longest sky way system in South East Asia and the world’s fastest as well. Whatever, I enjoyed the cable-car ride with the view of the rain forest below and the cool air and the clear skies above. I loved the giant ferns preserved for millions of years, they say. Age does matter sometimes, huh.(Tourist attractions visited:Safari,Genting, Malacca City, Batu Caves, A' Famosa, Melaka)

The First World Plaza features the Genting Sky Venture, claimed as the only free-fall skydiving simulator in Asia. That would have been a life-changing experience for me if I went to try that out. It is my dream to do para-gliding, an outrageous dream, I think. Too bad I was not able to try the free-falling thingy.(My dream to travel)